When Telegram Turns Rogue: The Secret Life of a Messenger App

Fast Facts

• Cybercriminals increasingly use Telegram’s encrypted messaging system as a command and control (C2) hub for malware operations.
• The notorious Lazarus Group exploited Telegram in its “Operation Blacksmith” to control infected devices worldwide, according to Red Hot Cyber.
• Telegram bots, built with public APIs, help attackers hide in plain sight among legitimate traffic, making detection far harder.
• Threat intelligence firms like Olympos Consulting now focus on identifying suspicious Telegram-based activity to help organizations stay ahead of evolving attacks.

The Messenger App with a Double Life

Imagine your office watercooler chatter - casual, open, and safe. Now picture someone using that same watercooler to pass secret notes, plotting a heist right under everyone’s noses. That’s the modern reality of Telegram, the messaging app embraced by millions for privacy and speed, now moonlighting as a remote control for cybercriminals.

According to an in-depth report by Red Hot Cyber, Telegram’s encrypted channels and easy-to-program bots have made it irresistible not just to ordinary users, but to hackers seeking a stealthy command center. Instead of setting up suspicious servers that defenders could spot, attackers hide their instructions and stolen data among legitimate Telegram chats - an invisible threat camouflaged in plain sight.

How Telegram Became a Cybercrime Tool

This trend isn’t new, but it’s accelerating. Since at least 2017, security researchers have tracked malware families like ToxicEye and XMRig using Telegram as their digital puppet master (see Check Point Research, 2021). In the latest wave, elite groups such as North Korea’s Lazarus have weaponized Telegram in campaigns like “Operation Blacksmith,” leveraging high-profile vulnerabilities such as Log4Shell to sneak in trojans like NineRAT. Once inside a victim’s system, these trojans report back and receive new commands - all via Telegram’s infrastructure, as documented by Red Hot Cyber.

Technical details can sound daunting, but the core trick is simple: hackers use Telegram’s open APIs to build bots that quietly relay stolen files, passwords, or new commands. Because Telegram traffic is usually trusted and encrypted, these bots blend into the background noise, making them tough for traditional defenses to spot. The MITRE ATT&CK framework even catalogs these tactics (T1102.002 and T1567), describing how web services can facilitate two-way, covert communication and exfiltration of sensitive data.

Defenders Strike Back: The Rise of Threat Intelligence

So how do you catch a thief hiding in a crowd? The answer increasingly lies in threat intelligence - specialist teams and tech that look not just for known malware, but for subtle signs of abuse within trusted platforms. Companies like Olympos Consulting, cited by Red Hot Cyber, monitor network traffic for unusual connections to Telegram’s bot APIs (api.telegram.org). If an employee computer suddenly starts chatting with Telegram’s backend in the middle of the night, that’s a red flag.

Beyond technology, human expertise is vital. Regular security assessments, tailored threat bulletins, and - crucially - employee education all play a role. Since many attacks begin with phishing or social engineering, a single click can open the door to a Telegram-powered breach. As attackers innovate, defenders must respond just as creatively, turning compliance and cyber awareness into strategic advantages.

The Global Stakes

Telegram’s global reach and privacy features have made it a favorite for activists - and, unfortunately, for criminals. While banning such tools isn’t feasible (or desirable), organizations must recognize that even the most familiar apps can become Trojan horses. Market analysts warn that as encrypted messaging becomes the norm, the arms race between attackers and defenders will only intensify, impacting sectors from banking to healthcare and beyond.

Conclusion: The Everyday App That Became a Battlefield

As the digital world grows more complex, the line between safe and suspicious blurs. Telegram’s transformation from messenger to malware hub should serve as a wake-up call: any trusted platform can be turned against us. The future belongs to those who invest not just in firewalls, but in vigilance, intelligence, and a culture of security. In this new era, the best defense is knowing where the threats are hiding - even when they’re right at your watercooler.

WIKICROOK

• Command and Control (C2): Command and Control (C2) is the system hackers use to remotely control infected devices and coordinate malicious cyberattacks.
• Telegram Bot: A Telegram Bot is an automated program on Telegram that can send or receive messages, often used for automation or by cybercriminals to manage malware.
• Threat Intelligence: Threat intelligence is information about cyber threats that helps organizations anticipate, identify, and defend against potential cyberattacks.
• Phishing: Phishing is a cybercrime where attackers send fake messages to trick users into revealing sensitive data or clicking malicious links.
• MITRE ATT&CK: MITRE ATT&CK is a public knowledge base detailing hacker tactics and techniques, helping organizations understand and defend against cyber threats.